This conference seeks to shine a light on a wealth of issues that are fundamental to economic development and progress and effectiveness in societies across the globe. Contributions should therefore be of interest to scholars, practitioners, researchers and thought leaders in both developed and developing countries targeting a worldwide readership.

With the world undergoing a period of deeper engagement and interaction greater than at any time in its history it is essential that we endeavor to examine the workings of globalization in its many and varied manifestations. The 2nd International Conference on Business & Entrepreneurship, Supply Chain Management & Information Systems seeks to elucidate some of the complexities of commercial engagement, reaction to change and foresight planning. It has become increasingly apparent that Business & Entrepreneurship has become a crucial asset which a developing country such as Egypt can benefit from. Local wealth generation is dependent on the activities of those imbued with an entrepreneurial spirit, yet often local conditions are not conducive to such activity, so it is important to look at ways to engender a supportive environment. Leaders in the political arena, in commerce, academia and in almost every field of human activity have much to gain from exploring these important themes. Equally it is important to appreciate the pivotal role that supply chain management plays in operations, as well as appreciating the centrality of information systems have in almost every aspect of our lives.

It is fitting that this conference is taking place in Alexandria, a city that since ancient times has not only been a repository of knowledge and wisdom, but also a celebrated trading port. Such a venerable and celebrated city reminds us of the complex nature of human relationships, the interplay of which depends on judgement, trust and the ability to see opportunities whether others see none at all. The best companies around the world are discovering a powerful new source of competitive advantage in business. It's called Entrepreneurship and supply-chain management and they encompass all of those integrated activities that bring product to market and create satisfied customers. Furthermore, how today’s a business firm use information technologies and systems to achieve corporate objectives. Information systems are one of the major tools available to business managers for achieving operational excellence, developing new products and services, improving decision making, and achieving competitive advantage. Each of our communities is having to wrestle with unprecedented change, and has access to new technology as never before. Our increasingly complex lives are dependent on those who have the clarity of thought and the expertise to ensure that systems not only work, but deliver in the optimum amount of time. The arrival of new and exciting technological platforms have broadened our horizons, whilst also affording fresh opportunities for those intent on criminal activity, especially cyber criminality. The challenges, whilst daunting, are also reason for hope, for in them lies scope for innovation.

When it comes to entrepreneurship many of the most exciting developments are taking place in countries that have embraced the likes of frugal innovation. Anyone who has read Charles W. Leadbeater’s The Frugal Innovator: Creating Change on a Shoestring Budget will have discovered that the Indian subcontinent has shown the way in many respects. There is considerable value to be gained from explored how we educate the young to have a more entrepreneurial attitude to life as well as exploring whether we equip students with the core financial competencies that will enable their business idea a better chance of survival.

When it comes to supply chain management, it is simply stated "the supply chain encompasses all of those activities associated with moving goods from the raw-materials stage through to the end user." Advocates for this business process realised that significant productivity increases could only come from managing relationships, information, and material flow across enterprise borders. Also "The delivery of enhanced customer and economic value through synchronised management of the flow of physical goods and associated information from sourcing to consumption." The goal of the extended enterprise is to do a better job of serving the ultimate consumer. Superior service leads to increased market share, if you can start measuring customer satisfaction associated with what a supply chain can do for a customer and also link customer satisfaction in terms of profit or revenue growth, then you can attach customer values to profit & loss and to the balance sheet. The future for Supply Chain Management looks very bright. This year, as well as last year, two major trends are benefiting Supply Chain Management operations. These are · Customer service focus · Information technology Successful organisations must be excellent in both of these areas, so the importance of Supply Chain Management and the tools available to do the job right will continue to expand